See the Kingdom of Heaven in 2007
January 1st, 2007 | Michael Pink
Hello my friends… I am expecting to see more of the kingdom of Heaven in 2007. How about you? I expect to see more of God’s hand moving in and through my life and in and through your life than ever before. This year holds incredible opportunity on so many fronts and that opportunity will present itself even in the midst of upheaval and change.
I intend to lean hard into my destiny and take steps I’ve only dreamed of before. I encourage you to do the same. Step out this year into new realms. Step into the dreams God has put in your heart. Take risks. Invest in yourself. Learn from others. Get with people who are going the same direction you want to head in. Associate with those who believe in what’s possible and encourage you in your dreams.
We have a lot of ground to take in 2007. Every inch will be contested, but God is within us and greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. God intends for that ground to be taken – for His purposes and His glory. He is looking for those who will put their trust in Him and really believe what He says. He is looking for those who will go beyond talking and into actually walking out the calling: Stepping into the unknown and Stepping into the light, the vision and the provision.
Are you in?
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January 2nd, 2007 at 3:44 am
Well said, Michael, as always.
YOur readers might also like to check out Oswald Chambers devotiuonal for today at www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php in which he notes, “You must learn to “go out” through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in your faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.”
Thank you for sharing your insights of God’s word in past years - we look forward to more this year. You have been blessed indeed, and we are richer because you have shared those blessing so willingly.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:16 am
I’m in!!! It is vital that we, as business owners and ministry partners, volunteers and everyday citizens, be THE example that God asks us to be. He gives us the strength, the courage and the ability to do His work. Now, we take steps each day to fulfill our mission. Michael, thank you for all you do for the kingdom as we reach more for Heaven in 2007. Karole (with a K), Marketing/Promotions for Praise FM 89.5, Naples, FL and owner or Esprit de Vie Marketing & Management Consultants
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:25 am
I’ve been praying the “Volunteer Prayer” recently. Here’s how it goes. I raise my hand and say, “I volunteer.” Then I keep my eyes open. I know God will have something for me to do.
Noah Onboard
Coaching for Managers and Teams at Work
(877)YES-NOAH
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:42 am
Hey Bill, Noah and Karole (with a K)… I appreciate your enthusiasm and I am telling you to get ready, fasten your seatbelts because this year will be like no other. It will be a thrill to take the ride this year with you and all the others who participate in this blog and are part of this community!
Blessings!
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:05 am
DESTINY? That would mean you beleive in fate not GOD’s will. Buuddists beleive in DESTINY not Christians. We are Predestined thru Christ Jesus, we are not destined thru Jesus.
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:37 am
I took the risks I followed my dreams I thought God was opening the doors. My partner,who is also my brother, left the business and now I’m in over my head. Business is bad and in a few weeks I’ll file for bankcruptcy. I’ve invested everything and I will loose it all. Success is not guaranteed. Business is risky. Do your homework. count the costs.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:04 am
I’m in!
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:07 am
Lou, I feel a bit of your pain. I don’t know much about dreams, but I am learning to lean, learning to seek wise counsel, learning to be part of the community and leave my radical individualism aside.
God’s word to us provides for our safety, but not always our comforts. The race is difficult. The way is narrow. The task impossible. But, God provides.
We have a great deal of precious instruction, rebuke, correction, and promises through His word.
It is enough. His grace is sufficient. He will complete His work in us. He is faithful. We not only can, but we must trust Him if we are to finish well!
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
Hi Arnold… You wrongly presume what I mean by Destiny. I do not prescribe to Budhist teachings but I do believe God has a plan for us, a destination prepared for us which we can walk in or choose not to. Blessings.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 am
Perfect timing as I decide on wether or not to revive an old and previously successful business partnership.
This is a new year, new direction, maybe old habits and associations need to be culled out.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:21 am
Hi Lou… I took the risks and followed my dreams and ended up homeless, flat broke and in great debt. It was in that crucible that what I needed for success was forged. I am forever grateful for the growth and the personal development that came out of that experience. I suggest you count the cost of what you invested in your business and count it as an expensive seminar which you are too smart not to learn from and benefit from. As a result of choosing to benefit from that very painful experience, over time and not without a few more serious setbacks, I eventually began to see the dream unfold and the success I had long ago envisioned starting to become part of my daily experience.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:49 am
I’m in!!! This was a great encouragement to me. I am an area team leader with a group of corporate chaplains if you would allow I would like to share this with them at our monthly meeting. Keep up the good work.
January 2nd, 2007 at 6:58 am
WOW — I’m in, too. In reading the responses posted up until now from today’s blog by M.P. - I am reminded of Matthew 6:33 — “Seek first the Kingdom of God and HIS Righteousness, and all these things shall be added…” So - this leads me to the wise words of Henry Blackaby in “Experiencing God,” “Look around, see where God is at work and join Him.” I, too, as Lou and MP have experienced loss, thinking I was walking in God’s Will. At the time of loss, I questioned if I had truly been in God’s Will, or was only doing what I wanted and seeking God’s ratification. On occasion, it was ME; more often it was HIS Will. In every case, God taught me valuable lessons, strengthened my faith and nurtured my growth in HIM. Os Hillman, in his TGIF devotional for today quotes C.S. Lewis, In these times we are willing to listen more intently, and to seek God in ways we would not normally do. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” [C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1962), 93.]
Best to Each of You in 2007. Follow Him!!
January 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 am
I’m in.
A key verse needs to be Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” We focus to much on “the desires of our hearts” and wonder why we don’t get them.
As we “delight (ourselves) in the Lord” we find that God changes our heart. As we delight in the things that he delights in and take up the causes that are important to him, we will find that our priorities have changed and taht our prayers seem to be answered more often.
As parents we are excited to share with our kids the things we enjoy. This can be both good and bad. Just think how excited God is to bless us when our desires come into alignment with His desires.
Have a great 2007!! Pray, Plan, Prepare and Practise
January 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 am
Thank you for your encourgement. The last two years in our business has been craxy with growth. God has blessed us, but, we have gotten off course! Today when I read your message to us, I’m stopping and taking the first business day of this new year, to ’seek first the Kingdom of God’ and set the calendar for HIM! This next year will be different, thanks to you answering the calling from our God to encourage all of us. We reach and touch many people in our sales business!
May God Bless you and your family Michael.
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:03 am
God bless each and everyone of you for passing on your thougths and words of encouraghment.
January 2nd, 2007 at 11:55 am
I am in agreement with your
goals for 2007. I also have made a quality decision to spend more time in the Word and continue to hve a hunger for it. I believe that the Word if God will change my life and bring to fuition all the desires of my heart. I am also taking Risk and going forward with my dreams and visions, keeping company with only those that will walk with me by Faith to see them through..
January 2nd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I look forward to your words of encouragement every weekday. 2006 was difficult financially but God is faithful to provide both my husband and myself jobs. However we both work on a commission basis. Our prayer is that God will use us to get debt free this year so that we will be able to help others in need. We are both excited about 2007 and patiently wait to see what God will do.
January 2nd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I am in! Thanks for the daily good words of encouragement, Michael. I want to suggest a wonderful book by Dr. Harold Best, published by InterVarsity Press, titled “Unceasing Worship” - as a Minister of Music for 32+ years, and small business owner for 7, it’s helping me center all I do on a daily basis. Praise His name.
January 4th, 2007 at 3:16 am
We are in!! God had to produce a crisis for us trust Him totally, but we got the point. Our new favorite saying is “Whatever, Lord!”